Caroline's Breast Cancer Blog

     On Friday I saw my oncologist and asked him about my recent abdominal CT scan. My last blog mentioned that the scan report noted several tiny "hypodense lesions" on my liver, which are too small to characterize. Not knowing what hypodense lesions are, I optimistically dreamed that they are liver tumors that are shrinking away.        When my doctors compared these scans to previous scans, it looks like the hypodense lesions are, in all likelihood, shrinking tumors.  My doctor said that the multiple tumors I had in my liver have distorted its shape, but it appears the tumors continue to be fewer and much smaller.  Wa-hoo!

     Prior to this set of CT scans, every three months I'd go in for CT scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvis.  The point of these scans is to see if my oral chemotherapy, Xalkori, is still working by looking inside me;  counting and measuring the tumors in my lungs, liver and bones, then comparing them to scans I've previously had.  I like the idea that we are looking for new cancer  growth, which would let me know that Xalkori has stopped working, so that I can start on a new chemotherapy in the earlier stages of the new growth.  What I don't like is the amount of radiation I'm exposed to with each scan.  So, since I've been doing pretty well, I negotiated with my oncologist to have this set of CT scans at 4 months.  E ven though I already have cancer, I figured that if I spread out the amount of radiation I receive from all these surveillance CT scans, maybe...just maybe...I might reduce the odds of my existing cancer getting w...

      As most of us realize, the Affordable Care Act [ACA], aka Obamacare, is a huge overhaul of our health care system.  Since it's so new, right now there's no way of knowing how it's working, let alone, how well it's working.  Other than the botched roll-out and the more recent reports of how many Americans are enrolling, I've heard very little.  My experience with a tiny portion of the ACA has made a huge difference in our lives.       In the past, I've always received my health insurance through Wynn's work.  I suppose it's because his office has a relatively small number of employees, but the premium and annual deductibles are both high.  Given my significant and expensive diagnosis, during open enrollment at my work last Fall, I signed up for my own policy, so that I'd have double coverage.  Prior to this year, I would not have been insurable, even in a group policy, because having a cancer diagnosis ...

     For the most part, having cancer really sucks.  I've done my best to incorporate my diagnosis into my life, constantly trying to gain, regain or maintain my "life's balance."  Not surprisingly, having a significant illness has made me more keenly aware of my relationships, including the value of my friendships.  Although I still love meeting new people, I am very sentimental, emotional, and protective of the circle friends I have been lucky enough to surround myself with for years.  Part II of our winter vacation was spent in the San Francisco Bay Area visiting long-time friends.        Sather Tower aka the Campanile      When we take a ski trip, w e usually go to the mountains for a week, skiing 4-5 days.  This year, we planned 3 ski days and spent the balance of the week meeting up with friends.   It worked out well because I was a little nervous about getting hurt on the slopes anywa...

My first selfie.   Lake Tahoe from the top of a ski run.      It's a strange thing...I know I have stage IV lung cancer, and I must be in some degree of denial.       Each winter, for the past 18 years, or so, my family and I have taken a vacation to the mountains to get several days of downhill skiing/snow boarding in.  Last winter was an exception.  A year ago I was in the throes of my lung cancer drama, too sick (and weak) to think about leaving my house.   Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe      This year has been much different. However, because  of the metastatic disease in my bones, I couldn't get any of my many doctors to give their blessing about our plans to downhill ski.  Eventually they acquiesced and allowed me to exercise some patient autonomy because I assured them I'd be cautious.  All of my doctors also seemed to want be supportive to me, knowing how much we love snow sp...